Tobacco Smoking and the Nigerian Tobacco Regulations: The Perspective of Students in a Semi-Urban Community
Abstract:
Tobacco
smoking is a global challenge especially
as it is attributed as a risk factor of many Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Findings
show that tobacco companies are targeting low and middle income countries with schools
as their primary target. This study
is aimed at investigating the knowledge and perception of the possible health effects
associated with tobacco smoking and the National Tobacco Control Act (NTC Act) amongst
secondary school students in Benin City.
The
study adopted a cross sectional study design conducted amongst secondary school
students in a semi-urban community. The study involved 203 participants drawn randomly
from nine schools. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire
which contained 10-items per knowledge and perception scale. A Knowledge/perception
score 5 was categorized as
poor while knowledge/perception score ≥6 was categorized as good. Data collected
was analysed on SPSS using descriptive statistics.
Mean
age of respondents was 13.9 years.
Majority had good knowledge (91.60%) and good perception (98.50%) of the health
risk associated with tobacco use. Most respondents (24.8%) reported asthma/breathing
issues as a health effect of tobacco consumption. While majority (91.60%) had good
perception of the NTC Act; a clear distinction could not be ascertained for knowledge
on the Act. Most (79.10%) had seen someone smoking in public while majority (90.4%)
agreed that people who sold cigarettes should
sell to children.
This study revealed
that students found health talks and television drama series as the best form of
education on the health effects of tobacco consumption and NTC Act.
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